Toilet seat hinge stabilization

ABSTRACT

A toilet seat hinge may be secured to a toilet bowl rim by sandwiching a piece of double-sided adhesive tape between the hinge and the rim prior to installing bolts and nuts. The double-sided adhesive tape may act to prevent or mitigate the toilet seat hinge bolts and nuts from loosening.

BACKGROUND

Toilets commonly comprise a hinge that allows a toilet lid and toilet seat to be lifted from the rim surface at the top of the toilet bowl. Commonly, the toilet seat hinge is held to the toilet by plastic bolts and nuts. In a typical arrangement, two bolts pass-through holes in the toilet seat hinge base and the toilet bowl rim. The nuts twist onto the bolts under the toilet bowl rim and can be tightened to secure the hinge to the toilet bowl.

However, over time and repeated use, the plastic nuts loosen from the bolts, eventually allowing increased lateral movement of the toilet seat relative to the toilet bowl. As a result, the toilet seat may become less stable, which could lead to falls and injury. Further, a loose toilet seat hinge may be a source of discomfort and/or irritation to users.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Non-limiting and non-exhaustive embodiments of the present disclosure are described with reference to the following figures, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the various views unless otherwise specified.

FIG. 1 depicts a toilet seat bowl rim having a double-sided adhesive tape partially covering a bolt pass-through hole according to one embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 depicts a toilet seat bowl rim having a double-sided adhesive tape covering a bolt pass-through hole according to one embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 depicts a toilet seat bowl rim having a double-sided adhesive tape covering both bolt pass-through holes according to one embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 4 depicts a toilet seat bowl rim with toilet seat hinges installed on top of double-sided adhesive tape according to one embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 5 depicts a step comprising trimming double-sided adhesive tape around a toilet seat hinge on toilet seat bowl rim according to one embodiment of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 6 depicts a toilet seat bowl rim with toilet seat hinges installed on top of trimmed double-sided adhesive tape according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding components throughout the several views of the drawings. Skilled artisans will appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help to improve understanding of various embodiments of the present disclosure. Also, common but well-understood elements that are useful or necessary in a commercially feasible embodiment are often not depicted in order to facilitate a less obstructed view of these various embodiments of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following description, reference is made to exemplary embodiments in which the disclosure may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the concepts disclosed herein, and it is to be understood that modifications to the various disclosed embodiments may be made, and other embodiments may be utilized, without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense.

Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” “one example,” or “an example” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment or example is included in at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. Thus, appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment,” “in an embodiment,” “one example,” or “an example” in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment or example. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable combinations and/or sub-combinations in one or more embodiments or examples.

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a toilet seat hinge assembly comprising a double-sided adhesive sandwiched between a top surface of a toilet bowl rim and a toilet seat hinge. In the present disclosure, the term “toilet bowl rim” means a flange or rim at the top of a toilet bowl. According to various embodiments, the double-sided adhesive may act to maintain secure attachment of the toilet seat hinge to the toilet bowl rim, and may further act to prevent and/or mitigate loosening of the nuts and bolts typically used to secure toilet seat hinges to a toilet bowl rim.

Commonly, a toilet bowl rim comprises a top surface that is essentially horizontal. Many toilet bowl rims have two vertical bolt pass-through holes spaced apart from each other at a hinge location. Toilet seat hinges may each be installed at the pass-through holes by placing the hinges at the pass-through holes, with a hinge base resting on the toilet bowl rim top surface, then passing a bolt through the hinge bolt hole and the rim pass-through hole, and finally by twisting a nut onto the bolt under the toilet seat rim.

According to embodiments of the present disclosure, a piece of double-sided adhesive may be placed over the pass-through holes on the toilet seat rim prior to attaching the toilet seat hinge thereto. Referring to FIG. 1, a single piece of double-sided adhesive tape 105 on the toilet bowl rim surface 100 covers approximately half of the pass-through hole 110. Referring to FIG. 2, a second piece of double-sided adhesive tape 106 covers the rest of the pass-through hole. Referring to FIG. 3, double-sided adhesive tape 105, 106, 107, 108 covers both pass-through holes in the toilet seat rim.

According to embodiments, double-sided adhesive tape used may be selected from numerous available types of such adhesive tapes. In some embodiments, a foam double-sided adhesive tape may be used. In some embodiments, various types of heavy duty bonding or mounting double-sided adhesive tape may be used. In one embodiment, 3M™ VHB™ may be used.

In other embodiments, various types of adhesives are used instead of double-sided adhesive tape. In one such exemplary embodiment, the adhesive is applied to the toilet seat and/or the toilet seat hinge as a liquid. In other embodiments, the adhesive is applied as a gel.

According to embodiments, two strips of double-sided adhesive tape used can cover each pass-through hole in the toilet bowl rim, such that a slit is formed between the strips, through which a bolt may pass as the toilet seat hinge is installed. In other embodiments, a single piece of double-sided adhesive tape covers the entire pass-through hole. In one embodiment, a hole is placed in the approximate center of the piece of double-sided adhesive tape to allow the bolt to pass therethrough.

In one embodiment, a patch of double-sided adhesive tape is sized to match the profile of a toilet seat hinge. In one embodiment, a toilet seat hinge is provided with a patch of double-sided adhesive tape attached to the underside thereof.

Toilet seat hinges 210, 215 may be installed by placing them centered over the pass-through hole, on top of the double-sided adhesive tape 105, 106, 107, 108 as depicted in FIG. 4. The double-sided adhesive tape may thus be sandwiched between the hinge bases and the top surface of the toilet bowl rim 100. Bolts 310, 315 may then be passed through the holes in the hinge base and through the pass-through holes in the toilet bowl rim. Nuts may be tightened onto the bolts from the underside of the toilet bowl rim.

As depicted in FIG. 5, excess double-sided adhesive tape 105, 106 may be trimmed around the base of hinge 215. FIG. 6 depicts a resulting toilet seat assembly having trimmed double-sided adhesive tape 400, 410 sandwiched under each hinge 210, 215.

Although the present disclosure is described in terms of certain preferred embodiments, other embodiments will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art, given the benefit of this disclosure, including embodiments that do not provide all of the benefits and features set forth herein, which are also within the scope of this disclosure. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized, without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A toilet seat assembly comprising: an adhesive sandwiched between a toilet seat hinge and a top surface of a toilet bowl rim.
 2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the adhesive comprises a piece of double-sided adhesive tape.
 3. The assembly of claim 2, wherein the piece of double-sided adhesive tape partially covers a pass-through hole of the toilet bowl rim.
 4. The assembly of claim 2, wherein the piece of double-sided adhesive tape comprises foam tape.
 5. A method for securing a toilet seat hinge to a toilet bowl rim comprising: affixing a piece of double-sided adhesive tape to a surface of the toilet bowl rim over a bolt pass-through hole; placing the toilet seat hinge on top of the piece of double-sided adhesive tape; passing a bolt through a bolt hole of the hinge and through the pass-through hole; and tightening a nut onto the bolt.
 6. The method of claim 5, wherein the piece of double-sided adhesive tape comprises foam tape.
 7. The method of claim 5, further comprising trimming the piece of double-sided adhesive tape to match a profile of the toilet seat hinge.
 8. A toilet seat hinge comprising a piece of double-sided adhesive tape adhered to a bottom surface of the toilet seat hinge.
 9. The toilet seat hinge of claim 8, wherein the piece of double-sided adhesive tape covers a bolt hole of the toilet seat hinge.
 10. The toilet seat hinge of claim 8, wherein the piece of double-sided adhesive tape comprises foam tape. 